As coral reefs around the world face the threats of pollution and warming waters, restoration projects have become a beacon of hope for the essential ecosystems. And new research found that such projects are even more effective than previously thought.
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Scientists at the University of Exeter studied struggling reefs in Indonesia that had been revived using the Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System, which transplants coral fragments onto a network of interconnected steel frames. They discovered that the restored reefs were growing as fast as healthy reefs after just four years, per a press release.
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“The speed of recovery we saw is incredible,” said lead author Ines Lange, while co-author Tim Lamont added, “This is a really encouraging discovery. If we can maintain climate conditions that allow for coral survival, it’s possible to restore even very damaged reefs back to healthy, functional systems within relatively short periods of time.”
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In an article for The Conversation, the authors said the restoration sites are now “barely distinguishable” from nearby healthy reefs and emphasized the need for continued coral reef conservation plans.